Nemesia plant named &#39;pengoon&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant named ‘Pengoon’ that is characterized by a compact habit, dense upright spikes of blue-purple flowers and oval shaped green leaves. In combination these characteristics set ‘Pengoon’ apart from all other existing varieties of Nemesia known to the inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant that will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Pengoon’. ‘Pengoon’ is a hybrid that resulted from a long term breeding program, involving cross-pollination of unidentified Nemesia hybrids, and was selected by the inventor in a cultivated area of Netherwent, Wales in 1996. The female parent is an unidentified Nemesia hybrid and the male parent is an unidentified Nemesia hybrid.

[0002] The breeding program began eight years ago with the objectives of improving upon such well-known varieties of Nemesia as ‘Confetti’, ‘Innocence’ and ‘Joan Wilder’. The inventor sought to first improve on habit by breeding plants that are more compact with stiff, upright flower stalks. Secondly the inventor sought to increase the size of the flower and the length of flowering time, and thirdly to improve the color range by producing clear colors. The fourth objective was to convert the species to a more efficient vegetative propagation rather than rely on seed, which is inherently unstable.

[0003] In 1995 the breeder made intervarietal and interspecific crosses with such common varieties as ‘Confetti’, ‘Innocence’, ‘Joan Wilder’, ‘Woodcote’ (all of these are unpatented), and unidentified seedlings from a cultivated area of Netherwent, Wales, that had resulted from uncontrolled crosses. The inventor selected from the flowering plants those that showed increasing expression of the desired traits. Re-selection, back-crossing and new crossing was conducted to produce parent lines which could then be crossed to produce the final product.

[0004] ‘Pengoon’ is distinguished from all other Nemesia known to the inventor by its compact habit, blue-purple flowers, and dense upright flower spikes. The leaves are more oval in shape, and exhibit thicker tissue. Mature stems grow in square shape rather than round stems and the flowers have a faint perfume scent. The flowers exhibited by ‘Pengoon’ contain purple in the blue color, which is not seen in any other upright Nemesia known to the inventor. When looking at the flowers of ‘Pengoon’ more blue-purple is shown in the overall appearance of the flower because the palate in the center is red-purple whereas other varieties of blue Nemesia have yellow centers.

[0005] ‘Pengoon’ was first asexually propagated by the inventor in 1997 in Netherwent, Wales using vegetative cuttings. It has been found stable and true to type after many cycles of vegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of ‘Pengoon’. In combinaton these traits set the new cultivar apart from all other existing varieties of Nemesia known to the inventor. ‘Pengoon’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

[0007] 1. Nemesia ‘Pengoon’ exhibits a compact habit.

[0008] 2. Nemesia ‘Pengoon’ exhibits blue-purple flowers.

[0009] 3. Nemesia ‘Pengoon’ exhibits upright flower spikes.

[0010] 4. Nemesia ‘Pengoon’ is floriferous and exhibits large, repeat-flowering heads.

[0011] 5. Nemesia ‘Pengoon’ is hardy to minus 5° Centigrade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The accompanying drawings illustrate the distinguishing traits and overall appearance of the new Nemesia cultivar ‘Pengoon’. Plants are 12 months old, in two-gallon containers and were grown under greenhouse conditions in Encinitas, Calif. Sheet 1 illustrates the entire plant and habit from a side perspective. Sheet 2 is a close-up view of the flowers. The drawings were made using conventional photographic techniques and the laser copies were made using standard techniques. Although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance, they are as accurate as possible by conventional photography and laser copying.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

[0013] The following is a detailed description of the Nemesia plant named ‘Pengoon’. Data was collected in Arroyo Grande, Calif. from plants grown in two-gallon containers under greenhouse conditions. Phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions. The color determinations are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similar to other Nemesia plants.

[0014] Botanical classification: Nemesia ‘Pengoon’.

[0015] Common name: Nemesia.

[0016] Use: Bedding and patio plant.

[0017] Parentage: The parents of Nemesia ‘Pengoon’ are unidentified Nemesia hybrids.

[0018]Female parent.—Unidentified Nemesia species hybrid.

[0019]Male parent.—Unidentified Nemesia species hybrid.

[0020] Propagation: Vegetative cuttings.

[0021] Sexuality: Hermaphrodite.

[0022] Growth Habit: Compact habit.

[0023] Plant dimensions: 36 cm. in height and 64 cm. in width.

[0024] Type: Hardy perennial.

[0025] Time to initiate roots: Approximately 16 days at temperatures of 21° Centigrade is required to produce rooted cuttings.

[0026] Crop time: 12 months are required to produce a finished two-gallon from a rooted cutting.

[0027] Root system: Numerous and fine.

[0028] Hardiness: Hardy to minus 5° Centigrade.

[0029] Stem:

[0030]Stem shape.—Quadrilateral with ridges.

[0031]Stem length.—39 cm. in length.

[0032]Stem diameter.—3 mm. in diameter.

[0033]Stem surface.—Glabrous.

[0034]Stem color.—144A.

[0035]Internode length.—2-5 cm. between nodes.

[0036]Branching.—Ascending and freely branching.

[0037] Foliage:

[0038]Leaf shape.—Ovate.

[0039]Leaf division.—Simple.

[0040]Apex.—Acute.

[0041]Base.—Rounded.

[0042]Margins.—Crenulate.

[0043]Surface.—Glabrous.

[0044]Arrangement.—Opposite.

[0045]Leaf length.—2.5 cm. in length.

[0046]Leaf width.—1.25 cm. in width.

[0047]Leaf color (adaxial surface).—137B.

[0048]Leaf color (abaxial surface).—147B.

[0049]Attachment.—Sessile.

[0050]Vein pattern.—Parallel.

[0051] Flowers:

[0052]Flowering season.—Spring and summer.

[0053]Fragrance.—Faint perfume fragrance.

[0054]Self-cleaning or persistent.—Self-cleaning.

[0055]Inflorescence dimensions.—2 cm. in length and 3 cm. in width.

[0056]Type of inflorescence.—Axillary raceme.

[0057]Peduncle dimensions.—9 mm. in length and 0.50 mm. in diameter.

[0058]Peduncle surface.—Stipitate glandular.

[0059]Peduncle color.—144A.

[0060]Bud shape.—Flattened oval.

[0061]Bud color.—80A.

[0062]Bud dimensions.—6 mm. in length and 4 mm. in diameter.

[0063]Flower color.—90C,B.

[0064]Flower shape.—Personate.

[0065]Palate color.—72A.

[0066]Nectary (located on underside of palate).—4 mm. in width and 4 mm. in length.

[0067]Color of nectary.—1C.

[0068]Petal surface.—Glabrous.

[0069]Petal margin.—Entire.

[0070]Petals.—Four petals in number. Upper lip has four lobes and the lower lip is bilabiate.

[0071]Petals fused or unfused.—Basally fused.

[0072]Flower spur dimensions.—6 mm. in length and 2 mm. in diameter.

[0073]Spur color.—85D.

[0074]Calyx dimensions.—3 mm. in height and 6 mm. in width.

[0075]Sepals.—Five in number.

[0076]Sepal surface.—Stipitate glandular.

[0077]Sepal apex.—Acute.

[0078]Sepal color.—144A.

[0079] Reproductive organs:

[0080]Stamens.—Two in number with filaments curved around one another.

[0081]Color of stamens.—155A.

[0082]Stamen dimensions.—3 mm. in length and less than 1 mm. in diameter.

[0083]Anther color.—161A.

[0084]Anther dimensions.—Less than 0.50 mm. in length and less than 0.50 mm. in width.

[0085]Amount of pollen.—Moderate.

[0086]Pistil.—One.

[0087]Pistil color.—155A.

[0088]Pistil dimensions.—0.25 mm. in length and 0.25 mm. in diameter.

[0089]Ovary dimensions.—0.50 mm. in height and 0.50 mm. in width.

[0090]Ovary shape.—Oval to round.

[0091]Ovary position.—Superior.

[0092]Ovary color.—145A.

[0093] Seed production:

[0094]Quantity of seed.—Approximately 15 fertile seeds per capsule.

[0095]Capsules.—Approximately 20 capsules per flowering spike, but this is markedly influenced by how many times the plant is pinched back.

[0096]Capsule dimensions.—12 mm. in length and 7 mm. in width.

[0097]Capsule color.—177D.

[0098]Capsule surface.—Glossy.

[0099]Appearance of seed.—Flattened and winged.

[0100]Seed color.—200D and wing 156D.

[0101]Shape of seed.—Oval.

[0102]Seed dimensions.—3 mm. in length and 2.5 mm. in width. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant named ‘Pengoon’ as described and illustrated herein. 